Wanna Be A Hipsta? There's An App For That.

It's called Hipstamatic and I purchased it recently off of iTunes. You can recreate all of the magic and fun of a vintage plastic toy camera without the hassle of film loading and development costs. The last time I had four rolls of 120mm film developed for my Dirty Diana it set me back fifty bucks. This app cost a mere $1.99.

You can thank me later.

The Art of Skate Photography: Hugh Holland

Jesus Saves, Marina Del Rey, 1977.

This post is Part 2 in a series about surf and skate culture. Click here for Part 1.

Have I ever told the story about my epic wipeout while hauling ass downhill on a yellow banana board? No need for gory details, but it's the main reason why I never became a skater. But, if you were to ask me what photos embody California youth culture in the 1970s I would point you to the work of Hugh Holland.

I'll let his mini bio do the talking:

One afternoon in 1975, a young photographer named Hugh Holland drove up Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles and encountered skateboarders carving up the drainage ditches along the side of the canyon. Immediately transfixed by their grace and athleticism, he knew he had found an amazing subject. Although not a skateboarder himself, for the next three years Holland never tired of documenting skateboarders surfing the streets of Los Angeles, parts of the San Fernando Valley, Venice Beach, and as far away as San Francisco and Baja California, Mexico. During the mid-1970s, Southern California was experiencing a serious drought, leaving an abundance of empty swimming pools available for trespassing skateboarders to practice their tricks. From these suburban backyard haunts to the asphalt streets that connected them, this was the place that created the legendary Dogtown and Z-Boys skateboarders. Indigenous to Southern California, these rebellious, daring, and highly skilled kids were at the forefront of this burgeoning sub-culture. Get the book here.

Warning: the following images make evoke a serious desire to break into your community pool and shred. I do not condone this behaviour. Unless, of course, said pool is empty.

Stacy Peralta in the Valley, 1977.

Skater School, Orange County.

Skate Shooter, Kenter Canyon Elementary, Brentwood, 1976.

Sidewalk Surfer, The Promenade, Huntington Beach, 1975.

Reach Out, 1976.

Number 79, Long Beach, 1975.

Laid Out at Kenter, 1976.

One Hangs Ten (Jeff Jones), Kenter Canyon, 1976.

In Your Face (Jay Adams), Kenter Canyon Elementary, 1976.

Hollywood Local, Hollywood Hills, 1976.

Arthur's Attitude (Arthur Lake), Kenter Canyon Elementary, 1976.

Jeff's Return.

Stacy Peralta Ripping at Coldwater Canyon Pool, 1977.

Skatepark Construction, Montebello, 1977.

Hangin in Balboa, 1975.

Riding to Ride, Highway 80, 1977.

Gold Skater, San Diego, 1975.

Asphalt Angel, Kenter Canyon Elementary, 1976.

Last Light at Kenter Elementary, 1976.

La Bufadora (Todd Foot), Ensenada, 1976.

Jeff Jones Stands on Coping, 1976.

Canyon Sunset Ride, Hollywood Hills, 1976.

Solo, Kenter Canyon Elementary, 1976.

Live Aid: 25 Years On

Live Aid is all over the news again today as it was...uhhh...25 years ago. That's still a hard number for me to stomach.

The multi-venued concert was held July 13, 1985 at London's Wembley Stadium and in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium; featuring a powerhouse lineup of pop and rock stars joined together in the fight against poverty in Africa. Ethiopa in specific.

For weeks leading up to the event tv watchers in the US had been bombarded with images of poor starving families in war ravaged nations clinging desperately to each other for survival. In fact, there was such a large disconnect for so many people in the US "living the American dream" that the shockingly graphic images evoked disbelief; even laughter. Caught up in the swell of the moment I am guilty of having chuckled at the myriad of jokes circling playgrounds accross the country. Fear of the unknown. I was only 8.

Live Aid is largely credited as being a roaring success, with not a little bit of controversy thrown into the mix. It far exceeded the expectations of organizers. Not just for the cause, but for the artists and the networks. MTV in particular. The moon man practically busted down our doors, turned on our televisions (in "stereo sound"), and occupied prime couch real estate all damn day.

A reunited Led Zeppelin. Plant and Page.

Singers Valerie Simpson, Teddy Pendergrass (confined to a wheelchair) and Nicholas Ashford (both men in sunglasses) backstage after performing at the Live Aid benefit. Photo Credit: David Mcgough. Life. July 13, 1985.

Rock N' Roll Royalty. Hard to believe that Princess Di and Prince Charles had been married four years by this point and that she had already given birth to her two sons. Photo Credit: Nils Jorgensen.

No bats in sight. Rock star Ozzy Osbourne pouring water over his head after performance at the Live Aid concert. Photo Credit: David Mcgough. Life. July 13, 1985.

Who's That Girl? Madonna at Live Aid.

Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger performing at the Live Aid concert. Photo Credit: David Mcgough. Life. July 13, 1985.

Singers Tina Turner and Mick Jagger performing at LiveAid concert. Photo Credit: David Mcgough. Life. July 13, 1985.

Freddie Mercury of Queen sporting some ridiculously tight jeans.

Bono solidifys the international rep of U2 at Live Aid.

International Pop and Rock artists collaborating on stage at Wembley. Photo Credit: Jeremy Nicholl. The Times.

Crowd shot at Wembley Stadium.

In Which I Pull My Hair Out

Frustrated!

I continue to document the ongoing saga which is my motorcycle.

It's not in the budget at the moment to have the bike taken to a repair shop so I've been trying to work out some of my starter issues myself. When I first purchased my '04 Royal Enfield Bullet it had 234 miles on the odometer. I've put on 30 more with rides around the neighborhood and a quick jaunt around town - before it stalled at 25 miles an hour. I nursed it home after that ride and haven't been able to get it to start since. That was about a month ago.

I've been reading a bunch of threads on the Royal Enfield U.S. Community Forum and am working my way through some of the common problems. This morning I disassembled the carb and used a good carb cleaner. Not sure if it needed it but I can breathe easier knowing the carb is ok. I also went to remove the spark plug. The tip on the old one was black and corroded so I replaced it. Tightened down the nut on the new one until it wouldn't turn anymore, but the NGK cap doesn't fit over top properly. It wiggles around and is just sort of propped on top of the plug. This doesn't sit kosher with me and I imagine could lead to the engine not firing. I also put a few drops of a good fuel additive into the tank to correct the ethanol factor.

The bike still won't start. Neither kick nor ES will get it to go. Could be the battery.

The old spark plug nestled between the engine cooling fins. That leaking fluid has me a little worried.



Corrosion on the old spark plug. Bye bye baby!

Shiny new plug.

That's a pretty small gap.

The NGK ignition wire cap does not sit properly on top of the new plug. Currently trying to find a solution.

I have already removed the air box (sits to the left of the carb in photo).

I purchased this stuff at Wal-Mart. It works pretty well.

Inside of the carb.

The lever in the upper left is the choke.

Disassembly of the carburator.

The guts.

That says "Mikcarb India".

Carburetor cleaned and reassembled.